Steelers are still better

[walzav29]

Last night kind of showed me where the Bengals should be. That was a tough game on the road, and it was adog fight. The Steelers pulled it out though. I still think that the Bengals don't match up well with them, and the Steelers will have Willie mak the Bengals D overpursue for about a 180 yards. Bummer.

[skyline]

Last night kind of showed me where the Bengals should be. That was a tough game on the road, and it was adog fight. The Steelers pulled it out though. I still think that the Bengals don't match up well with them, and the Steelers will have Willie mak the Bengals D overpursue for about a 180 yards. Bummer.

I think the Bengals will give them fits, but yeah. If I had to choose, I'd say the Steelers still have the edge over us.

[walzav29]

It just really bugs me that Palmer can't pull out the final drives of games to win them, and Ben seems to pull them out. 5 games are alot. I just think that a Farve, Montana, Elway, McNabb and even Ben would have pulled out a couple more. It's a big step to get over the hump.

Jets - INT

Steelers - INT

Steelers - INT

Titans - Fumble

Jags - Fumble

Miami - FG

Ravens - TD

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

It just really bugs me that Palmer can't pull out the final drives of games to win them, and Ben seems to pull them out. 5 games are alot. I just think that a Farve, Montana, Elway, McNabb and even Ben would have pulled out a couple more. It's a big step to get over the hump.

Jets - INT

Steelers - INT

Steelers - INT

Titans - Fumble

Jags - Fumble

Miami - FG

Ravens - TD

HELLO!?!?! BEN has thrown HALF the number of passes as Palmer. It's not Ben winning it, it's just Ben not LOSING it. With Palmer, it's HIM winning or losing it. Also, I love the way you have to go back to last year to find palmer miscues. Palmer only has 2 interceptions all year, in 5 games this year. Last year was his education phase. So far this year, he hasn't made those mistakes. When it's game 5 before we lose, something is right, so put about 1 oz more water in that glass so you can see it as half-full instead of half-empty. That is, unless you WANT to be a hair-brained pessimist.

[gobengals19]

It just really bugs me that Palmer can't pull out the final drives of games to win them, and Ben seems to pull them out. 5 games are alot. I just think that a Farve, Montana, Elway, McNabb and even Ben would have pulled out a couple more. It's a big step to get over the hump.

Jets - INT

Steelers - INT

Steelers - INT

Titans - Fumble

Jags - Fumble

Miami - FG

Ravens - TD

HELLO!?!?! BEN has thrown HALF the number of passes as Palmer. It's not Ben winning it, it's just Ben not LOSING it. With Palmer, it's HIM winning or losing it. Also, I love the way you have to go back to last year to find palmer miscues. Palmer only has 2 interceptions all year, in 5 games this year. Last year was his education phase. So far this year, he hasn't made those mistakes. When it's game 5 before we lose, something is right, so put about 1 oz more water in that glass so you can see it as half-full instead of half-empty. That is, unless you WANT to be a hair-brained pessimist.

I do believe that Big Ben has a much better pocket awareness than Palmer or 90% of the other QBs in the league. He just seems to know where to be and when. However, I think he is in the lower 20%tile of reading DEFs and accuracy. That was evident in their couple of losses.

[bengalindian]

OK, I'm gonna take back most of what I said about Roethlisberger being a fluke. I know he doesn't throw anywhere close to other QB's, but still, one must give credit where credit is due. He doesn't make the mistakes that lose games, and when he is needed, he steps up in a big way. I think the Steelers definitely still have the edge over the Bengals, but a win in Tennessee and a win at home against Pittsburgh could change all of that.

Weekend recap:

Bengals in primetime on the road=Loss

Steelers in primetime on the road=Win

Bengals record: 4-1

Steelers record: 3-1

Bengals still in first! Who Dey!

[derekshank]

The Steelers beating SD makes it look as though we will need to beat KC at the end of the season. We lost to Jacksonville... so if they lose to the Jags that will help a lot. And without Big Ben (or at least a fully healthy Big Ben) that will give the Jags a very real chance to take another game away from Pittsburgh in their house.

Yes, we lost a road game. They have lost a home game... and I don't see us losing our home game against Buffalo (the equivalent to their NE game). We need to play strong on the road... and we did... we just came up a little short. They played strong on the road... and won.

It makes them look stronger but the only difference between their victory and our loss was a great play by the Jags D-Line. If Palmer holds on to that ball and drives like he was doing... we look like the strongest team in the country right now.

Let's not sell ourselves completely short here. We just need our players to believe they will pull it out at the end. If Marvin develops that mindset, we are just as strong, if not stronger than the Steelers. We should start winning games like that soon... because I think all of our players know they should have won the other night.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

It just really bugs me that Palmer can't pull out the final drives of games to win them, and Ben seems to pull them out. 5 games are alot. I just think that a Farve, Montana, Elway, McNabb and even Ben would have pulled out a couple more. It's a big step to get over the hump.

Jets - INT

Steelers - INT

Steelers - INT

Titans - Fumble

Jags - Fumble

Miami - FG

Ravens - TD

HELLO!?!?! BEN has thrown HALF the number of passes as Palmer. It's not Ben winning it, it's just Ben not LOSING it. With Palmer, it's HIM winning or losing it. Also, I love the way you have to go back to last year to find palmer miscues. Palmer only has 2 interceptions all year, in 5 games this year. Last year was his education phase. So far this year, he hasn't made those mistakes. When it's game 5 before we lose, something is right, so put about 1 oz more water in that glass so you can see it as half-full instead of half-empty. That is, unless you WANT to be a hair-brained pessimist.

I do believe that Big Ben has a much better pocket awareness than Palmer or 90% of the other QBs in the league. He just seems to know where to be and when. However, I think he is in the lower 20%tile of reading DEFs and accuracy. That was evident in their couple of losses.

It's easy to have good pocket awareness when all you have to be aware of on 90% of your snaps is which side your running back is going to get the ball on. He'd be a miserable failure on another team.

[bengalindian]

The only difference in the game was the Jags' D-line? What about the bonehead penalties? Or the horrific run defense? Or the lack of pressure on Leftwich? Hell, everyone can get a good lick on him, but the Bengals didn't. The Steelers went into San Diego, who had the largest crowd ever for the Chargers, and pretty much dominated a very good offense. Let's not get too sappy or forgiving for this loss, there is still a lot of work to be done. I mean, I'm not a pessimist by any means, but you gotta look at the facts.

[USMC203]

The only difference in the game was the Jags' D-line? What about the bonehead penalties? Or the horrific run defense? Or the lack of pressure on Leftwich? Hell, everyone can get a good lick on him, but the Bengals didn't. The Steelers went into San Diego, who had the largest crowd ever for the Chargers, and pretty much dominated a very good offense. Let's not get too sappy or forgiving for this loss, there is still a lot of work to be done. I mean, I'm not a pessimist by any means, but you gotta look at the facts.

We need to get off the loss and get ready for next week also don't think about the Steelers yet. Like Marvin said learn from it. How about this, bring in Luchey and run Johnson & Johnson at the middle the rest of the year and keep Perry to the outside. Let teams know we are going to beat your D and your LB'S with those four horseman till the cows come home!!!

[HairOnFire]

Watching last nights game I decided it was time to give the biggest Ben credit for becoming a complete QB. He's no fluke, and his game continues to grow beyond simply handing off all day. He's just as real as Palmer is, and I look forward to those two having epic battles over the next decade or so.

Last, I sincerely hope the injury isn't serious because the Steelers need to be taken down without excuses being made.

[Stripes]

Yeah, I don't think is much substance anymore to the cracks on Roethlisberger. He has continued to play well, and there's no reason to bash him. He's thrown 7 TDs and 0 INTs through his first four games. Palmer's numbers are just as good, but he has just as much talent around him as Ben does. They will both dominate this division for a long time.

If you want to make fun of the Steelers, then make fun of Cowher. He is more deserving.

[Ox]

Let me just ask something... Whom in here just knew that we were going to score, at least a FG if not a TD on that last drive vs. the Jags?

[Stripes]

Let me just ask something... Whom in here just knew that we were going to score, at least a FG if not a TD on that last drive vs. the Jags?

I'll raise my hand here.

[Ox]

Well I think it speaks volumes for there to be that much confidence in a guy who "Can't pull out final drives of games and win them". I for one absolutely KNEW we were going to score. Not a doubt about it.

I mean come on, can we give the Jags D a bit of credit here? I don't blame Carson at all for that fumble.

[walzav29]

I guarantee Brady would have made it. With Carson I was wincing.

[BengalByTheBay]

I agree with the premise of your thread -- the steelers are better at this point. I disagree that Palmer can't close out games. He is doing well under circumstances where all of the focus is on him. Did you see the end of the game last night? Bettis, Bettis, Bettis. They were at 3rd & 1 in the last two and converted both with the running game. We were 4th & 1 and failed to convert. We're not with the steelers yet because our running game cannot do that consistently. As such, the onus falls on Palmer to make the throw, make the read, make something happen on 3rd down. That happens far less often for Cheesey. I'm not saying he sucks -- in fact, count me on board the Cheesey-wagon, the guy gets it done. But he's doing so under far more favorable circumstances. Carson's asked to do more and, as a result, fails more times. Give him a running game that converts every first down and I think you've got a different picture. I see relatively little difference between Palmer and Ben. I see a bigger discrepancy between what our o-line and RB can do in crunch time versus the steelers.

[buck3y3d]

The Steelers are definately the better team (although i think we can still split the series) as of now. Rothleisburger has always been talented, and now he has excellent presence.

However, Palmer has not lost games for the Bengals. The Bengals have lost games for themselves. Palmer fumbled because Perry blew his block. It was a team loss, but one where the Bengals showed a lot of character.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The Steelers are definately the better team (although i think we can still split the series) as of now. Rothleisburger has always been talented, and now he has excellent presence.

However, Palmer has not lost games for the Bengals. The Bengals have lost games for themselves. Palmer fumbled because Perry blew his block. It was a team loss, but one where the Bengals showed a lot of character.

Ultimately, yes, Perry and Levi both blew their blocks (two guys were all over Palmer there and Levi got beat as well from Palmer's blind side - at least Perry's missed block was right in front of Palmer).

Carson has to know that in that situation you CANNOT under any circumstances turn the ball over period. You take a sack, you throw it away, you do something as you still could've tied the game up at that point, that has to stay in the back of his mind - he knows better and usually has a good natural feel for the pocket and when he's getting pressure.

Carson's problem is he's under a lot of pressure here to make things happen and win games - even if he has to do it himself.

I hope he learns from this - he seems to have learned from his red zone INT's earlier in his pro career for the most part and is getting better and better.

I still think Carson will end up being a better QB than Ben down the road - Carson is just working under more difficult circumstances - and ultimately is doing more than Ben is to win games at this point....Ben is just not losing them for his team.

But if you remember last year's AFC champsionship game, Ben was garbage...so sh$t happens and they have a lot of games left to redeem themselves.

Again I am more disappointed with the overrated o-line, the poor safety play w/o Madeiu, and people like Brian Simmons who is no longer the player he was, and the DE's who aren't doing squat this year.

I welcome back Madeiu, Clemons and Braham next week and I think that'll give this team a nice boost.

Even if Madeiu is shy in run support, his coverage skills are as good as any CB's on that team, and they desperately need that if nothing else.

[Benzoo]

The Steelers are definately the better team (although i think we can still split the series) as of now. Rothleisburger has always been talented, and now he has excellent presence.

However, Palmer has not lost games for the Bengals. The Bengals have lost games for themselves. Palmer fumbled because Perry blew his block. It was a team loss, but one where the Bengals showed a lot of character.

Ultimately, yes, Perry and Levi both blew their blocks (two guys were all over Palmer there and Levi got beat as well from Palmer's blind side - at least Perry's missed block was right in front of Palmer).

Carson has to know that in that situation you CANNOT under any circumstances turn the ball over period. You take a sack, you throw it away, you do something as you still could've tied the game up at that point, that has to stay in the back of his mind - he knows better and usually has a good natural feel for the pocket and when he's getting pressure.

Carson's problem is he's under a lot of pressure here to make things happen and win games - even if he has to do it himself.

I hope he learns from this - he seems to have learned from his red zone INT's earlier in his pro career for the most part and is getting better and better.

I still think Carson will end up being a better QB than Ben down the road - Carson is just working under more difficult circumstances - and ultimately is doing more than Ben is to win games at this point....Ben is just not losing them for his team.

But if you remember last year's AFC champsionship game, Ben was garbage...so sh$t happens and they have a lot of games left to redeem themselves.

Again I am more disappointed with the overrated o-line, the poor safety play w/o Madeiu, and people like Brian Simmons who is no longer the player he was, and the DE's who aren't doing squat this year.

I welcome back Madeiu, Clemons and Braham next week and I think that'll give this team a nice boost.

Even if Madeiu is shy in run support, his coverage skills are as good as any CB's on that team, and they desperately need that if nothing else.

Yup.

[schweinhart]

The Steelers showed they still got it in their craw to win after getting bounced at home by the Pats. Sandy Eggo shoulda showed up better at home w/ all that they got on the line, but they will make their run.

Steelers vs. Bengals at PBS is a must-win for the Bengals.

Not just record wise but to get them over that last little bump in the road to prove to themselves that they are the division-winning caliber of team they think they are.

[Stripes]

A lot of people are comparing the Steelers win in San Diego to what we should have done in Jacksonville. No doubt, their win was impressive, as they succeeded where we failed in the fourth quarter, but there is still one glaring difference.

The Jaguars were coming off of a sorry home loss to Denver, and were certainly fired up to make it up to their fans at ALTELL Stadium. the Chargers, however had just gotten done demolishing the Patriots in Foxboro. I think they may have been a little heady coming into the Pittsburgh game. Also, as far as matchups go, I think the Bengals would have an easier time beating the Chargers than the Jaguars.

[CBin2k7]

Yeah, the Chargers are better than the Jaguars offensively but they are not in the same league with Jacksonville on Defense. I actually think the Jaguars may surprise the Steelers.

[derekshank]

A lot of people are comparing the Steelers win in San Diego to what we should have done in Jacksonville. No doubt, their win was impressive, as they succeeded where we failed in the fourth quarter, but there is still one glaring difference.

The Jaguars were coming off of a sorry home loss to Denver, and were certainly fired up to make it up to their fans at ALTELL Stadium. the Chargers, however had just gotten done demolishing the Patriots in Foxboro. I think they may have been a little heady coming into the Pittsburgh game. Also, as far as matchups go, I think the Bengals would have an easier time beating the Chargers than the Jaguars.

Yeah... I think that the Jaguars winning was much more important to them than it was to us. They were 2-2 and are in Indy's division. (And let's not forget that the only two teams Jacksonville have lost to are very good teams). Going 2-3 would effectively end their chances of winning the division. They were fighting tooth and nail. That's not an excuse... I'm just saying that I imagine in their minds they needed it more than San Diego thought they needed to beat Pittsburgh. It was life and death for Jax.

Not to mention that the Steelers had their bye... so they had 2 weeks to prepare for this game. They had advantages where Cincy didn't this particular week. Jacksonville was pissed after losing to Denver, and San Diego crushed New England. Pittsburgh's last game was a loss, so they were looking to rebound.

Once again... not an excuse, we should have won, plain and simple. But I think that looking at week 5 in a vaccum as the tell-tale sign that Pittsburgh is still better than Cincy is a little much.

[redsfan2]

Let me just ask something... Whom in here just knew that we were going to score, at least a FG if not a TD on that last drive vs. the Jags?

I'm glad that I read through the posts to get caught up. I had no doubt that the Bengals were going to win that game .... right up to the point that the ball got knocked out of Palmers hand.

There were points prior to that when I thought we were screwed, but when we had the ball with under 2 minutes ..... I thought it was in the bag.

Next week starts our next 4 game win streak.